TV has a bigger audience than films: Swara Bhaskar

Swara Bhaskar, who will soon be seen on a DD show called Rangoli, believes that the small screen “is a great platform for actors to gain visibility.”

After anchoring film-maker Shyam Benegal’s show, Samvidhaan, on Rajya Sabha TV, which she says was “a fantastic experience”, Swara Bhaskar will soon be seen hosting the popular television show, Rangoli, on Doordarshan (DD).

Swara will be seen on a new show on DD.

A source says, “The show’s makers have revamped it to target the youth. Swara is not only a popular name, but is also known for voicing her opinions on issues that affect society. Her grasp on Hindi is another major reason why she was considered.” In the past, famous names from the film and television world, like Hema Malini, Shweta Tiwari and Prachee Pandya, have hosted this show.

Ask Swara about her decision to appear on TV, and she says, “I was both honoured and excited when I was offered this iconic show on DD. I remember watching it as a child. As an actor, to be able to reach out to such a wide audience inside their homes is a huge lure.”

Swara says she has been offered daily soaps in the past, but she has always had her hands full with film commitments. Yet, she feels that “TV is a potent medium that reaches a far wider audience than films do, so it’s a great platform for actors to gain visibility”. “DD, despite being considered a less-glamorous channel than the private ones, still has the largest audience footprint in the country,” she says.

The actor also feels that the taboo with regards to film actors working on the tube is lifting. “It was a baseless prejudice. In terms of content, the scope is huge, and I do hope that the trend of Indian TV developing quality content continues in a positive direction,” she adds.

Actor Swara Bhaskar believes in the power of TV.